Why is it this sequence and not the truth, the way, and the life? Why do we need a WAY first?
Let’s say the TRUTH is the treasure in the volt of a bank. In order to get to the volt, we need an ID. The ID which gets us to the TRUTH is being born again. What does that mean? It means we have been regenerated and justified. Thus, we are endowed with a new IDENTITY that gives us passage to withdrawing the TRUTH.
The TRUTH in this context is: it takes a regenerated, born-again spirit to walk in the Spirit. This is why Jesus is the WAY to that TRUTH. It is only through Jesus that one gets born again.
Therefore, an unsaved man, a man that is not regenerated can only follow the LETTER of the law.
What is the difference? For example: if someone broke my vase, it is my right (and the law agrees) to request payment for it whether the person can pay or not. But it takes the SPIRIT of the law to accept the loss and forgive the person for it. The Lord tells us:
Matthew 22:39 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. NKJV
Accepting the loss when the person cannot pay and forgiving them is an example of obedience to His command. This is a simple example and possibly many could obey this. What if the loss is $5,000 or anything else that has a great value to you?
We know the Lord is pleased more by obedience than by any sacrifice we do outside of obedience.
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. KJV
However, there is another great Truth: He enjoys the things we do out of love for Him. Things that flow out of us due to the intimacy and love for our Lord. These are things we do because His heartbeat in us is initiating them. The driving force of our Christian walk must be our love for the One that called us.
This is a great Truth: obey and follow The Lord’s commands out of love for Him not our of duty. The law without Christ is dead. There is no life in it. He said, and continues to whisper in our spiritual ears:
I AM THE WAY
Jesus is the WAY! How have you experienced the WAY of following His commands “by the Spirit” leaving in you?